White Sox drop lefty Downs in bullpen shake-up

TORONTO — The White Sox bullpen took four losses in the first seven games of the team's ongoing road trip, and management responded with a shake-up Thursday.

Left-hander Scott Downs, 38, who signed a one-year, $4 million contract in the offseason, was designated for assignment before the Sox opened a four-game series against the Blue Jays. In his place, the Sox recalled 26-year-old left-hander Eric Surkamp from Triple-A Charlotte.

Downs wasn't effective as a lefty specialist.

"It just didn't work, being able to just get the one guy," Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "You're giving a younger guy a shot at it that can go in there and give you an inning or two."

Downs was 0-2 with a 6.08 ERA, 15 walks and 22 strikeouts in 232/3 innings this season. He walked the only batter he faced in the eighth inning Wednesday night against the Orioles to load the bases, and reliever Javy Guerra then gave up a game-tying grand slam.

But Downs, well-liked in the Sox clubhouse, did provide a veteran presence to the bullpen.

"(Downs was) a veteran guy, a leader, ... a guy I think a lot of people could turn to, especially with some of the younger guys in the bullpen," Sox catcher Tyler Flowers said. "He's the kind of guy you could ask questions, and he wouldn't make a fool out of you if they were stupid questions. And he liked to have a good time. He was a good part of what we have going on as far as the team chemistry, the shenanigans we get into in the clubhouse. That's a tough one, but we wish him the best, and I know Surkamp has been doing well, so I'm sure he's excited for his opportunity."

Surkamp joined the Sox off waivers in the offseason from the Giants, with whom he made seven major league starts, going 2-3 with a 7.36 ERA.

He was 3-4 with a 4.54 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 14 games, including 11 starts, with Charlotte this season and was named the International League pitcher of the week last week after going 1-0 with an 0.64 ERA and 15 strikeouts in two starts.

He said he has found "a bit of a groove lately" after not pitching as well as he would have liked in spring training. He knew Tuesday he was going to receive a shot with the Sox.

"I was all right going to Triple A; it wasn't like I was crushed by it," Surkamp said. "I just wanted to start pitching well, and if you do that, things will work well."

Downs isn't the only player the Sox have sent away despite a lingering contract. The Sox let third baseman Jeff Keppinger walk in May despite owing $8.5 million on his contract.

Flowers said that despite his disappointment at seeing Downs leave, he at least appreciates that the Sox are willing to make decisions based on factors other than contracts.

"Since I've been in this organization, it's always been about the best guy for the job," Flowers said. "They haven't made it about how much service time you have, how much money you make. ... It's tough for a lot of us to see (Downs) go, but at the same time, it's nice to see the organization is saying what they mean and doing what they say."